Multiple container package



Feb. 14, 1967 T. M. PACE 3,303,929

MULTIPLE CONTAINER PACKAGE Filed May 19, 1965 2 Sheets-$heet l Feb. 14,1967 T. M. PACE MULTIPLE CONTAINER PACKAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May19, 1965 I 12 HHHIIHIHHIHH United States Patent 3,303,929 MULTIPLECONTAINER PACKAGE Thomas M. Pace, Pensacola, Fla., assiguor to St. RegisPaper Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 19,1965, Ser. No. 456,923 5 Claims. (Cl. 296-65) This invention relates toa package, such as a paperboard carton in which is packaged a pluralityof inner containers of a peculiar but heretofore well known shape, suchas of the type disclosed in US. patent to Moore, granted February 8,1944, No. 2,341,056, the containers being so arranged in the package asto be in a novel, firm, mutually-supporting, systematic arrangementrequiring substantially a minimum amount of space.

The type of inner container referred to is formed of a short tubularsection of paperboard or other sheet material having each end collapsedwith abutting end edge portions brought into flatwise engagement andsealed together along a straight line forming a substantially linearseal perpendicular to the axis of the tubular section and with suchstraight line seal at one end of the container in a 90 angularrelationship as compared with the like seal on the other end of thecontainer. This type of container, which is very inexpensive and easy toconstruct, fill and seal, has come into extensive use for containing avariety of different types of powdered materials or liquids, but thecontainer is of such an odd shape that the packing and arranging of aplurality thereof in a systematic way in any outer protective carton orbox, presents a difficult problem, particularly if a group of same is tobe packed in a square or rectangular carton of substantially minimumsize and in such manner that they will remain securely in place. If suchinner containers are placed in a carton in a random arrangement,protruding corner portions thereon will tend to become crushed againstthe carton walls or against each other, and in any event, the protrudingcorners will make necessary the provision of considerable wasted spacesin the carton.

The present invention provides a solution of these problems by way of soarranging a plurality of the containers with respect to each other andwith respect to the carton walls, that the whole group may be fittedinto the outlines of a square or rectangular carton (depending on thenumber and dimensions of the containers in the group) so that there willbe a minimum of waste space in the carton and each of the containerswill be in a predetermined position to press against the next containeror containers and hold them securely in place, in positions such thatnone of the corners of the end closures thereof tends to protrude beyondthe normal outlines of the rectangular carton.

In accordance with the invention, the containers of the above-mentionedtype are so arrange-d side by side in the carton, that the linear endseals thereof contact one interior wall surface of the carton alongspaced-apart parallel lines which run diagonally across the carton wall,whereas on the opposite ends of the same containers, the linear sealedends similarly contact an opposite interior surface, also along diagonallines, but along diagonals that are at 90 to the first-named containerends. This results in an arrangement whereby the middle side portion ofone container at a location thereon which is somewhat rounded, engagescrosswise a similar rounded midportion of the next adjacent container orcontainers.

Various further and more specific objects, features and advantages ofthe invention will appear from the description given below, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way ofexample preferred forms of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single one of the inn containers ofknown type such as of the above-mention prior US. patent;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a carton with t cover portions openand containing a plurality of the cc tainers arranged and packed thereinin accordance wi the invention;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantia' along thehorizontal plane of line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating t invention asapplied to a carton adapted to contain t\ rows of the inner containersas shown therein; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional View taken substantia' along the verticalplane of line 55 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings in further detail, it Vl be noted that thetype of known inner container which to be packed in a carton or box inaccordance with tl invention may comprise a generally tubular shortlength section 10 formed of paperboard or other sheet materi one end ofwhich is collapsed along a straight line 11 at the bottom of thecontainer, and the other end of whi is also collapsed along a straightline as at 12, here sho as being at the top of the container, thecollapsed e edges in each case being suitably sealed together by i useof suitable adhesives or heat sealing methods followi filling of thecontainer with whatever product is to packaged therein. Moreparticularly, it will be noted tl the straight line seal 11 is in aposition at to 1 straight line seal 12 at the other end of the containerrelated to the central axis thereof, as indicated by dott line 13. Thusan odd shape is provided having ft corners as at 14, 15, 16 and 17 withthe consequence th if such containers are placed in a carton at randompc tions, there will be a great deal of waste space and st corners willprotrude in random directions on the varir containers, so that same willtend to protrude at irreg lar points against the surfaces of adjacentcontainers 2 against the interior wall surfaces of the carton, theregiving rise to conditions causing deformation or punct ing of thecontainers during shipment or rough handli:

As shown in FIG. 2, a carton or box 17 is provid formed of paperboard orother suitable material and, the form here shown, such carton isrectangular in cro section in both its horizontal and verticaldimensions, though the invention is applicable to instances where cartonmight be used which would be square or rectan; lar in one or more of itscross-sections, depending up the dimensions of the inner containers tobe contair therein and the number of the latter to he packaged.

Quite surprisingly, I found that the inner contain may be arranged inthe carton in the manner shown FIG. 2, thereby fully solving the problemof compac packing such containers in a systematic way and so as presenta neat and attractive appearance and with e2 container so positioned asfirmly to retain the adjao container or containers against displacementand in firm mutually-supporting relation, with none of the c nersprotruding beyond the outlines of the carton terior. That is, thecontainers 10 are so positioned t1 the straight line seals 11 at one endthereof will be pt tioned along spaced-apart parallel lines runningdiagon 1y across a carton Wall such as at 18. The straight I seals 12 atthe other ends of the containers will simila be placed alongspaced-apart lines extending diagone across an opposed wall, as at 19,of the carton, but di onal in directions at right angles to thecontainer ends This results in an arrangement such that, as best sho inFIG. 3, bulging or rounded side portions as at 20 2 21 at the middle ofadjacent cartons, will come into gagement, thereby placing the adjacentcontainers in gc mutually-supporting relation such that they cannotbeco.

placed upon jarring the package during shipment. This :ct results fromthe fact that the straight line sealed is of each container will be heldin uniform contact ng oppositely-directed diagonals respectively withthe ton walls 18 and 19 by the bulging middle wall poris as at 20, 21.These bulging wall portions will cont each other in a crossedrelationship and such that the ttively stiif corners and sealed endportions on each the containers are in any event kept out of contactwith adjacent container or containers at all times. \s further shown inFIG. 2, the carton may be proed with a cover, as at 22, havingconventional side l front flaps, as at 23, 24, and 25. It should benoted t when the cover is closed, it will come into contact h roundeddiagonally-extending ridges as at 26 along h of the inner containers,and similar ridges along the tom of each of the containers will be heldin diagonal itions in contact with the bottom wall of the carton. sresults in effect in locking all of the plurality of er containers intheir desired respective positions, h each container uniformlycontacting, along diagonal :5, both the "front and rear walls of thecarton, as well the bottom and top walls. Furthermore, the sides of endcontainers of the plurality will engage the end ls of the carton alongstraight diagonal lines, one of .ch is indicated by the dotted line 27in FIG. 2. That along this diagonal line, a bulging side wall portion,at 28 (see FIG. 3) will engage the end wall of the ton, and similarly,at the other end of the carton, a ging container wall portion 29 willcome into engageit with and extend diagonally across the carton end 1.ts shown in FIG. 4, two rows of the end containers are shown packed sideby side in a single carton 30, in this case, the sealed straight lineends 12 of the tainers are positioned along spaced-apant diagonal lines18 to come into contact with a hinged cover portion 31 refor when thelatter is swung to closed position. Also, 11 this arrangement, as bestshown in FIG. 5, the .ight line lower end seals 11 of the containers areught into contact with the bottom 32 of the carton. arrangement of thefront row of inner containers as wn in FIG. 4, is, of Course, the sameas that of FIG. ixcept that in FIG. 4 the straight line seals arebrought I contact with the top and bottom walls of the carton ead of thefront and rear walls, as in FIG. 2. be back row of inner containers isshown by dotted s in FIG. 4, and as shown in section at the right-handof FIG. 5, is, of course, arranged the same as the it row, and this backrow is designed to be covered a cover portion 33, which comes intocontact with upper straight line seals of the inner containers alongced-apart diagonal lines, as shown by the dotted lines he upper part ofFIG. 4. f desired, the front edge of the cover portion 33 may providedwith a deeply-extending flap as at 34, which, am down in closedposition, forms a divider separatthe front and rear rows of the innercontainers and ng in preventing same from being displaced during )ment.The ends of the cover 33 may be provided 1 conventional flaps, one ofwhich is shown at 35, ch may, if desired, when the cover is closed, beined between layers of the end wall portions 36 of the I011. The frontcover 31 may be provided with suit- 2 depending flaps as at 37, 38 and39, which when cover portion is closed, may he slid down, as willreadily understood, into locations such as normally told the coverclosed. ks is best shown by FIG. 5, the middle bulging por- IS of thecontainers, as at 40 and 41, will engage the walls of the carton alongdiagonal lines, such as icated by the dotted line 42 in FIG. 4. Also,bulging ldle portions as at 43, 44 will come into contact either 1 eachother or with the intervening depending flap 34 in a manner comparableto the way in which the bulging portions contact in crosswise relation,as indicated at Zti, 21 in FIG. 3.

It will be apparent that similar principles may be followed in packingany desired plurality of the inner containers in one, two or more rows,with a plurality in each row.

Although, upon inspection of various figures of the drawings, it mightseem to be a simple matter to select or choose the container arrangementshown, yet even experienced packaging experts, upon emptying thecontainers from the cartons as shown, generally find it a perplexing andpuzzling problem to replace them as there shown, and more particularlyso if any considerable number of the containers are to be put into asingle carton.

The term rectangular carton as used herein is intended to be applicableto cartons of which the vertical and horizontal cross-sections thereofmaybe either rectangular in the usual sense, or square. In the appendedclaims reference to the carton walls is intended to be applicable to theside walls as well as the top (cover) or bottom walls, as the case maybe.

Although certain particular embodiments of the invention are hereindisclosed for purposes of explanation, further modifications thereof,after study of this specification, will be apparent to those skilled inthe art to which the invention pertains. Reference should accordingly behad to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A package with a plurality of inner containers each of whichcomprises a length of tubing of sheet material collapsed fiatwise ateach end and sealed along linear seals which are perpendicular to theaxes of the containers, and the seals at opposite ends of each containerbeing in positions extending in directions at right angles to eachother, said package comprising in combination a generally rectangularcarton containing at least one row formed of a plurality of said innercontainers arranged side by side, the linear seals of one end of each ofwhich engage a wall of the carton along spaced-apart parallel linesextending diagonally across such wall, the seals at the opposite endsextending in parallel spaced-apart diagonal relation with respect to andin a plane opposite to said wall, and each container having areas at itsmid-portion which are rounded in cross-section and which engage incrossed relation with like rounded areas on the next container orcontainers.

2. A package in accordance with the foregoing claim 1 and in which saidwall comprises the bottom of the carton and said plane opposite to saidwall comprises the plane in which a cover for the carton is located.

3. A package in accordance with the foregoing claim 1 and in which saidplane opposite to said wall comprises the plane in which is located thewall of the carton opposite to said first-named wall.

4. A package in accordance with the foregoing claim 1 and in which aplurality of said rows of inner containers are provided to extend sideby side in the carton.

5. A package in accordance with the foregoing claim 4 and in which thecarton is formed with separate hinged covers respectively for said rows,at least one of said covers having a depending flap separating one ofsaid rows from another.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1961 .Larson20665 4/1966 Wasyluka 206-65

1. A PACKAGE WITH A PLURALITY OF INNER CONTAINERS EACH OF WHICHCOMPRISES A LENGTH OF TUBING OF SHEET MATERIAL COLLAPSED FLATWISE ATEACH END AND SEALED ALONG LINEAR SEALS WHICH ARE PERPENDICULAR TO THEAXES OF THE CONTAINERS, AND THE SEALS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF EACH CONTAINERBEING IN POSITIONS EXTENDING IN DIRECTIONS AT RIGHT ANGLES TO EACHOTHER, SAID PACKAGE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A GENERALLY RECTANGULARCARTON CONTAINING AT LEAST ONE ROW FORMED OF A PLURALITY OF SAID INNERCONTAINERS ARRANGED SIDE BY SIDE, THE LINEAR SEALS OF ONE END OF EACH OFWHICH ENGAGE A WALL OF THE CARTON ALONG SPACED-APART PARALLEL LINESEXTENDING DIAGONALLY ACROSS SUCH WALL, THE SEALS AT THE OPPOSITE ENDSEXTENDING IN PARALLEL SPACED-APART DIAGONAL RELATION WITH RESPECT TO ANDIN A PLANE OPPOSITE TO SAID WALL, AND EACH CONTAINER HAVING AREAS AT ITSMID-PORTION WHICH ARE ROUNDED IN CROSS-SECTION AND WHICH ENGAGE INCROSSED RELATION WITH LIKE ROUNDED AREAS ON THE NEXT CONTAINER ORCONTAINERS.